4 comments about The Woodbook: The Complete Plates (Taschen 25th Anniversary).

1. This is a beautiful book -- almost coffee table quality. It opens with an interesting history of American forests and their trees, albeit from a "we destroyed the beautiful forests and the environmentalists saved them" perspective. The pages associated with each tree variety contains a very limited bit of information about the variety and three nice photos of the grain, one in each orientation -- longitudinal, transverse, and radial.
   
   While the three grain perspective photos are useful, I had hoped for something with more that just a couple of lines of information about each species -- more like Hoadley's two excellent books, the USDA "Wood Handbook" or Peters' "Woodworker's Guide to Wood".
   
   Each opening chapter and each information page is printed in three languages.



2. Excellent Value. I am an advanced hobbist woodworker and this book is an a great reference for a multitude of common & somewhat rare or unusal North American wood. If you buy your wood from one-man or small sawmills, this is very good reference for identification. Additionaly, shrinkage data, 3 view pictures of grain & surface, and application data make this book very important reference work for your personal library.
   
   I could also see where environmentalists and outdoorsmen would find valuble.



3. The Woodbook is another welcome Taschen addition to our design library. Long overdue this compilation delivers to the point easy to compare notes and images in varied cross cut and with the grain directions. Even suitability and durability is covered. Brilliant!



4. This spectacular edition reprints and extends a book first published in 15 volumes, staged across the end of the 19th and start of the 20th centuries. 354 North American tree species appear, including "trees" like palms and suguaro. A few paragraphs describe each species briefly, including habit of growth, characterization of the lumber, and uses of the tree. Uses include edible nuts, tannins for processing leather, and traditional applications of bark or roots. Descriptions appear in English, German and French. The photos across the fold of each two-page spread really make this book, though.
   
   Each wood, with very few exceptions, show the wood as it appears in transverse (end grain), radial (quartersawn), and tangential (plainsawn) sections. These specimens were provided by Kew Gardens in the UK, and add a little information of their own: the UK-English name of each tree (in addition to the US-English), German and French again, and in Spanish - often different the different names used in different Spanish-speaking regions. In many cases, the tree's leaves, flowers, and fruit or seed are also illustrated in line drawings taken from Sargent's magnum opus from the same era, "Silva of North America."
   
   Since the descriptions are now over 100 years old, usages may look odd. Acorns, for example, no longer find wide use as human food, and only sugar-maple's sap still has much use in cooking. A few notes are painfully up to date, though. Many species were described as diminishing because of over-harvest even then, and the loss of old-growth forests was already a concern.
   
   Other books give better descriptions of how the wood accepts machining, glue, or fasteners, and potential health risks in handling the wood and its sawdust. No matter, this is an outstanding resource and a visual delight. I recommend it to anyone passionate about wood and its beauty.
   
   -- wiredweird

5 comments about Color Choices: Making Color Sense Out of Color Theory.

1. This is an excellent book on color, very indepth and very clear. I've learned things from this book that I didn't know. I recommend it to anyone who loves color and uses it in their work or art.



2. Stephen Quiller's books,(I have his book on using Acrylics as well) are definitly the most helpful to me as I am attempting to take up painting again after a long hiatus. His color wheel is fabulous as are his suggestions on mixing results for different pigments, suggestions on setting up one's pallette, what colors are available in various named brands, etc. on and on. All of this information is for water based media, so if that is what you need, it is all here! One may or may not like his style of painting---it is semi-abstract with elements of realism that makes it appear more commercially appealing I suspect, but his color info is dead on! One definitely does not wind up with mud when following his suggestions.



3. Great book presenting a complex theory in understandable fashion! Quiller is an expert in the theory of color.



4. Stephen Quiller is a real master of color harmony. I warmly recommend his book. He teaches not only the color theory, but also demonstrates how it works in practice with his own work. Quiller shows how to mix colors in real life and how to find out the complementaries. His color wheel adds the commercial names of hues that one finds in shops, which is quite handy.
   
   Quiller will teach you not to use the "real" surface color of the objects, but to search for feelings and the atmosphere of the ambient. The leaves may be, say, violet and the sky yellow, if that is how you see them.
   
   One thing Quiller misses to point out is additive color mixing like it was used by pointillists. When colors mix in the eye the rules of harmony are somewhat different.
   
   If you are sceptical about brave color mixtures I recommend you to first have a look at Quiller's art at his internet pages.



5. This book is worth buying for Quiller's color wheel. It is by far the best and most practical I have ever seen. It makes paint mixing very easy. Throw out your color mixing cook books and buy this one.

5 comments about Painting Flowers in Watercolor with Charles Reid.

1. This is a good book which teaches step by step how to paint flowers and other still life objects. It starts off with easier projects and works up to more difficult ones. Each project lists what color of paints to use, along with pictures and instructions. Charles Reid also talks about what kinds of papers, paints, brushes, palettes and other materials you will need. Best of all his book is filled with beautiful full color pictures of his paintings. He is not a watercolor artist who uses many layers of transparent glazes, so if you are looking for that kind of instruction it is probably not for you. Highly recommend this book.



2. Looks great, haven't had time to read, but is similar to one he wrote (currently out of print) loaned to me by my art teacher.



3. I first met Charles Reid and his wife Judy in 1988 and it was the beginning of an endless learning process ever since. I have learnt so much about watercolour from his books over the years since then. Charles' books are amazing in that he holds nothing back and just discloses all his knowledge in a wonderful style that is easy to learn from. Invariably there are step by step demonstrations to illustrate his methods. Even if the reader doesn't particularly like his style but would rather paint in a more classic sense with lots of glazes and so forth you will still learn so much about how the colours interact with water and on the paper. Charles' workshops are a great delight and if you are fortunate to attend one you will find that he is a friendly man of great warmth and charm which is reflected in his books.



4. I discovered Charles Reid at my local library and was smitten with his loose, colorful, gorgeous pictures. This book is a clear, helpful guide to making juicy watercolors of still lifes that sing with color. He has practical tips on brushwork, contour drawing and composition that are easy to follow and clearly explained. He also has step-by-step instructions for several of his pictures that show you how he goes about making his own pictures (often from everyday objects and flowers on his kitchen counter). I'm fairly new to watercolors and I found this book invaluable to improving my pictures and getting me to loosen up and feel creative and find beauty in simple objects.



5. I wish I had had this book years ago. It contains exercises to enable the reader/student to experience and learn direct painting techniques that bring freshness, spontaneity, bright vivid color and realism to one's paintings--inspite of an "untidy" style. If you're serious about watercolor, Reid can take you where you really should go. Reid embodies the principles of the best of watercolor and painting teaching of the past (particularly Hawthorne, Henri, Manet). He puts it all together into what I call a meditative painting style (stroke on color and pause to consider, then soften, add other color wet-in-wet, and so on. Doing the exercises in this book can revolutionize your painting and will, at the very least, bring immediate and important improvements to your technique and approach to watercolor. If you like Reid's paintings--flower, figures, portraits, etc., do yourself a favor--get the book and the two corresponding videos.

5 comments about Dynamic Light and Shade (Practical Art Books).

1. This book is killer.... it starts by talking about silhouettes.... then adding 1 highlight... then more and more form definition...
   
   Everything from directional light, to moonlight, to sculptural light.
   
   Great for anyone looking to add detail to their line work.



2. This book pre-supposes that you are an artist who has done their homework, not a how-to shade the figure or objects book. It offers tons of examples, with connoted "feeling" of imagery, of the author's remarkable abilities with the human figure as well as picture-book examples of scenes and the rendering of forms. Not a book for a beginner to be sure, so I think the low reviews would have to be from the uninitiated. After all, as the author points out, it is only after perhaps hundreds of hours of 'picture-making' does one begin to understand the art and science of dynamically rendering a scene in black and white let alone color. Beginners......Look elsewhere.



3. A very nice book, with a lot of important notes about the subject, but the images look like comics to much.



4. This book will not significantly improve your understanding of how light affects and creates shadows on form. However, I don't believe any book can do that. You can learn to draw a realistic face from your imagination, but the variations of how light will affect forms are infinite. Most artists who get good at "faking" it rely on a good understanding of form and perspective, backed by countless hours spent observing and drawing things under various lighting situations. They basically are always relying on observation, be it direct, photographic, or remembered. Try to think of an artist who could create truly convincing, consistent lighting for a scene from their head. I can't think of any. I guess my point is, let's not be too hard on old Burney, he was just trying to make a buck:)
   
   If this book has a practical application, it's probably as a collection of creative ways to light your subjects to achieve particular dramatic affects. Fun to flip through, but just not all that useful.



5. This book is good to illustrate the phenomena of light in a composition. It discusses the different kinds of light and their effect on the environment of the picture. Worth getting to use as reference material.

2 comments about Robert Warren's Guide to Painting Water Scenes.

1. Very good instructions but I searched for acrylic books and did not check close enough as acrylics are mentioned but this book is strictly for oil painters. Also, no templates.



2. Robert Warren has outdone himself in composing this wonderful instructional book on oil painting-it is very well explained-this book is for intermediate to advance skill level.

4 comments about Expressive Portraits: Creative Methods for Painting People.

1. This is by far the best watercolor book out there. I've learned so much from it. I love the color pallette Jean recommended in her book. I highly recommend this book to all levels watercolorist. Thank you Jean for sharing your talent and knowledge with us.



2. I have had the pleasure of taking classes with Jean and feel that the book admirably projects her lessons. I especially like her information on using different medias. She has given me the courage to break all rules and experiment for myself. I think it is a very good book on painting portraits and a good addition to an artist's library.



3. What an amazing artist. I love her contemporary take on portraiture. I'm hoping to adapt her techniques to acrylics or oils on board and/or canvas, rather than watercolor and gouache on paper. She does use some acrylics however, and overall I give this a thumbs-up. Very inspiring!



4. This is a nice inspiring book. I just don't give it 5 stars because i was expecting to find skin color recipes and the step by step demonstrations are not too specific to follow them.

5 comments about The Sierra Club Guide to Sketching in Nature, Revised Edition.

1. I was looking for a book to go through all aspects of nature sketching and journaling. This is the book! I have lended the book out to other sketch artists and they found it very useful as well. Lots of pointers on different types of sketching and FANTASTIC illustrations. It it worth purchasing just for the illustrations alone. I would recommend this book to ANYONE who is interested in sketching nature.



2. I loved this book. I am a beginner and it was an excellent resource.



3. I am a novice artist and need all the tips and help I can get. This book is a big help and I refer to it frequently.



4. This book provides a tremendous amount of information on sketching in nature but don't let the title fool you- this is a terrific general sketching and drawing book. Johnson covers topics that are rarely covered in other books. The use of pens, watercolors, pencils and colored pencils (both water soluble and not) are covered. This is an invaluable book and is an asset to both the beginner and more advanced student. I'm on Amazon right now trying to find other books by Cathy Johnson- I'm that impressed.



5. This is a very refreshing book. Cathy Johnson not only makes it look easy to draw and paint loose, yet accurate, watercolor sketches outdoors, but she tells you everything you need to know. This book will actually teach you how to draw and paint what you see, without making things overly complicated. Best of all, her supply list is well within the means of most people. I really enjoyed this book, and learned a great deal from it. This summer, I caught Lyme disease. It's nasty. For months, I could hardly walk, let alone hike and garden and do stuff I used to love. But Cathy's book has helped draw me back outside, and I'm learning to love nature all over again, one leaf, flower, and bug at a time. This book would make a great gift.

5 comments about The Sumi-E Book.

1. If you are new to Japanese brush art work and want to learn the technique, this is the book to start with!



2. If you're a beginning Sumi-e painter you might want to wait on purchasing this book until you're more comfortable with the basics of brush loading and color gradiation.
   
   This book tends to avoid going into detail about the intricacies of brush loading and the importance of your paper quality and it's absorbency.
   
   If you are a beginner looking for a solid book that explains in alot more detail the four gentlemen and the importance of your brushes quality and methods for loading the brush, buy "Japanese Ink Painting: Beginner's Guide to Sumi-E" (Paperback) by Susan Frame. It's a marvelous book with alot of great examples and step by step instruction as well as some history and excercises you can do to become more comfortable with your brushes.



3. Personally I am also interested in using colour in my sumi-e works, this guide only has black and white. But the images are just beautiful. Hope I reach that level soon!



4. After exactly two lessons in watercolor and an appetite to learn more precise brush strokes I purchased Sumi-E. I immediately was able to make headway using the carefully written examples shown in this lovely book even without purchasing the precise Japanese brushes. I highly recommend it.



5. The Sumi-E Book is an excellent source for beginners who are interested in learning this beatiful Japanese Art form.

5 comments about An Introduction to Acrylics (DK Art School).

1. I found this book to be just what I needed to get started with acrylics. It is concise, yet has all that a beginner needs to know what to buy and how to get started. I found the simple exercises very helpful and look forward to trying the more complex techniques as I gain confidence.



2. Pretty picture as in all DK books but gives an entire overview of all acrylic paining in 72 pages. A lot of simple paragraph definitions of techniques but nothing of any direction or use for a begining painter. A great picture book for a child.



3. I bought this book based on all the other reviews and now I too love it. Loads of beautiful color pictures and examples and written clearly. If you're beginning acrylics - get this !



4. Considering that I have yet to find a complete compedium of Acrylic techniques, this is probably one of the better books out there, especially for beginners. This book will give you the short and skinny on your tools, paint and mediums, and canvases/surfaces. After that, the book starts giving examples on how to tranfer your image onto the canvas with pencil prior to painting, using opaque methods to painting, transparent(watercolor style) methods, drybrushing, scumbling, and more. Then at the end of the book, it contains a series of gallry examples in acrylic to inspire. This book is a good foundation book, and gives many approaches to using acrylic.



5. When I decided that I wanted to start painting, I bought five "How To" books. This one is my favorite, hands down. The book is well organized, well written, and contains a lot of beautifully detailed photographs. The author has kept the text to a minimum, letting the photographs do much of the talking, which works far better for me than other books that have more emphasis on written instruction.
   
   In only 72 pages, every topic is covered, and no question is left unanswered. It begins with a brief history of the medium, then moves on to cover color, paint types, brushes, painting surfaces, tools, and techniques, as well as galleries of different painting styles. There's even a section on experimental approaches, such as stenciling and inventive scraping. Rather than presenting a series of exercises (as many books do), this author encourages experimentation and discovering your own personal style, an approach that really inspired me to pick up a brush and get started.
   
   Also worth mentioning is that every photograph and illustration is in color . . . really GOOD color. This may sound like a no-brainer, but a few of the other books I purchased contained a lot of black-and-white photos. Hey, you can't learn to paint in black and white!
   
   Experienced artists may find the material here a bit too rudimentary, but for the true novice, like myself, this book is a winner. If you're looking for that ONE book to get you started, this is it!

5 comments about The Painter in Oil.

1. I was looking for a book on realistic painting theory, and that's exactly what this is. It starts with details about what sort of paints will last the longest, what makes a good brush, how to stretch a canvas properly, etc.
   
   Next it talks about general ideas, like how colors and values relate to shading, and how to draw properly (drawing is the foundation of good painting).
   
   In the last part of the book, it covers specifics, like how to paint a good still life, and how to paint figures.
   
   This book isn't a formula book, like something from Bob Ross, but gives you in depth theory and a detailed look into the neoclassical style of painting. It was written in the late 1800's, so the writing has a certain charm, but it isn't difficult to read at all.
   
   The book itself is very sturdy and the font is easy to read.



2. If your interested in oil painting and the theories behind it, this book is for you. Written about 100 years ago, the author treats you as a student as he explains the various materials and methods for a successful painting. From early sketches, to rough studies, to completed works, you should find what your looking for here.



3. I am amazed at how much Parkhurst knew about painting. Much of this knowledge has been lost to many contemporary art schools so I am very thankful Parkhurst took the time to write this book. It takes a little while to get past his older writing style but it is not too bad. He has a great sense of humour that comes through as well.



4. Great. Clear and concise neo-classical painting technique coupled with beautiful writing on the subject of perception. Soulful.
   
   From the book:
   
   The painter should not be hampered by process; he should not be controlled in the expression of himself by tradition. He should feel free to use any or all means to bring about the result he aims at, and he should allow no tradition or point of view to prevent him from selecting whichever means will most surely or, satisfactorily bring about his true purpose.



5. One of the best books on painting I have read. Old copies have always been way out of my price range.
   There are a few minor typos that I assume are from digital scanning that were not caught, but the book was in great shape and shipped fast.